Vital Signs Chart: 3.5 Unemployed for Every Job Opening

The competition for job openings has become less intense. The number of job seekers per opening was 3.52 in August, down from 3.56 in July and 4.42 in August of 2011. For almost three years now, the U.S. has added private-sector jobs. At the same time, many discouraged workers have left the workforce, meaning less competition for those still seeking jobs.

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